Poultry processing hub and belt assembly

ABSTRACT

A hub and belt assembly for driving a poultry de-feathering machine includes multiple bearing heat dissipating hub driven by a serrated timing belt. The hub assembly incorporates seals along a drive shaft to reduce wear caused by dirt. The timing belt synchronizes multiple picking hubs and reduces the friction driving required. The combination of a heat dissipating hub and the placement of seals along the drive shaft within the hub minimize maintenance and replacement.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/346,257, filed Jan. 17, 2003, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/349,526, filed Jan. 18, 2002. Both of the aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of poultry processing equipment, particularly rotational hub and belt assemblies for de-feathering or plucking devices.

BACKGROUND

Poultry processing industries commonly use automated lines to kill, eviscerate, pluck and further process birds. Rotational devices are generally employed to facilitate continuity of process and to minimize labor. One of the most common poultry processing machines is a plucker or de-featherer. For many years devices incorporating a number of pliable fingers have been utilized to beat and pull the feathers from bird carcasses.

In processing facilities, multiple finger-type plucking devices are used in sequence to fully pluck a carcass. Typical plucking processes incorporate opposing pairs of finger-typed pluckers which are sufficiently spaced apart to maneuver a bird carcass therebetween. Initial plucking is completed with a pair of spaced-apart finger-type pluckers having a plurality of rigid, spaced-apart fingers. Subsequent plucking of fine feathers is accomplished by passing the bird between opposed pairs of pluckers having multiple pliable fingers. Automated plucking devices are generally used to suspend and move the bird carcass along a line of opposed pairs of pluckers which depilate the carcass of all feathers from course to fine as the carcass travels along the processing line.

Typically, the pluckers of a processing line are powered by a motor which provides rotational force to each plucker via a chain or belt drive assembly. Early assemblies utilized a single motor connected to each plucker hub. This method facilitated accurate control of individual hub speed which is necessary to mesh opposing pairs of hubs and to synchronize sequential hubs. Due to the high cost of purchasing and maintaining individual motors, eventually hubs were spaced-apart in sequence so that a single motor could be used to drive multiple pluckers. Single drive hub assemblies eliminated multiple motors but had several inherent problems.

Either a V-belt or flat belt is used to transfer the rotational force from the motor to each sequentially aligned hub. Hub drives incorporate a smooth pulley commonly used for drive belt applications. The drive belts frequently have to be adjusted to maintain the desired, and necessary pressure and friction between the belt and pulleys to drive the multiple pickers. Problems exist in that the smooth belts stretch and constant maintenance and attention is required to control the drive force. Friction from belt slippage also accelerates wear and tear on hub assemblies, belts and motors.

Efforts to remediate the stated deficiencies resulted in a drive assembly which utilized drive chains and hub sprockets rather than belts and pulleys. This improvement resulted in constant and consistent force transferal from the drive source to the hub assemblies. However, it is common that the poultry being processed, or the shackles from which bird carcasses are suspended, become entangled or otherwise disrupt the plucker assembly. When, for instance, a shackle becomes entangled in single plucker, continual force of the drive source will cause the chain to shear the sprocket of that plucker. Further, problems in the plucking process can result in the jumping, or unwanted movement of the chain in relation to the sequence of hub gear assemblies. Often, hub gears are made of hardened plastic in an effort to minimize the cost incurred by shearing of sprocket teeth. These inexpensive systems are prone to failure and require significant maintenance due, in large part, to the intrusion of dirt, feathers and fecal matter into the moving parts.

Furthermore, poultry processing has conventionally relied upon “V” or flat belt technology, or the chain and gear assembly described above. Both of these assemblies require constant maintenance and adjustment. Because of belt slippage and the friction imparted on a hub assembly by the belt, hubs wear very quickly and must be rebuilt or replaced on a regular basis. Gear and chain drives require constant maintenance and because of shackle entanglement in pluckers result in the shearing of teeth from the sprocket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A poultry processing machine, particularly a hub and belt assembly such as a feather plucking device, facilitates timed rotation of driven members while diminishing wear and breakage commonly associated with such equipment. More particularly the device is a poultry processing apparatus which comprises a hub having a flange portion, a boss portion, a pulley end and a central bore extending therethrough. A hub plate, attachable to the hub, has a flange portion and a hub plate shaft bore alignable with the central bore of the hub. A drive shaft is mounted transversely through the central bore and hub plate shaft bore; the drive shaft further is provided with a pulley end and a spaced-apart drive end. A first bearing is positioned on the drive shaft at the hub plate and a second bearing is positioned on the drive shaft at the junction of the flange portion and boss portion.

Seals adjacent each bearing limit intrusion of foreign matter into the workings of the hub assembly. The seals, along with the configuration of pulleys and belts, may limit required maintenance and component replacement. A seal is for example positioned adjacent each bearing and at the hub plate to effectively prevent foreign matter from wearing the drive shaft and bearings.

A drive belt operatively connects to a pulley fastened to the drive shaft at the pulley end and to a spaced-apart drive source. A poultry defeathering device, such as pliable rubber fingers, attaches to the drive shaft at the drive end and rotation of the drive belt about the pulley spins the drive shaft in the first bearing, second bearing and third bearing within the hub housing, thereby operatively rotating the poultry defeathering device.

Designed primarily for ganged sets of plucking arms, the hub and belt system may include a heat dissipating hub housing journalled to a drive shaft, preferably with at least two independent sealed bearings, and a timing belt which allows operators to alternate time opposed pairs of plucker arms to avoid entanglement of the process poultry, hangers and the plucking heads.

In one embodiment, a poultry processing apparatus includes at least one hub, and a drive shaft mounted transversely through the at least one hub. The drive shaft has a pulley end and a drive end. At least one sealed bearing is received on the drive shaft and rotationally supports the at least one hub. A pulley attaches to the pulley end of the drive shaft. A drive belt operatively connects the pulley to a drive source.

In one embodiment, a poultry processing apparatus includes a hub having a flange portion, a boss portion, a pulley end and a central bore extending therethrough. A hub plate attachable to the hub has a flare portion and a hub plate shaft bore alignable with the central bore of the hub. A drive shaft, mounted transversely through the central bore and hub plate shaft bore, has a pulley end and a spaced-apart drive end. A first bearing and a seal are positioned on the drive shaft at the hub plate, and a second bearing and a seal are positioned on the drive shaft at the junction of the flange portion and boss portion. A drive belt operatively connects to a pulley fastened to the drive shaft at the pulley end and to a spaced-apart drive source. A poultry defeathering device attaches to the drive shaft at the drive end. Rotation of the drive belt about the pulley spins the drive shaft in the first bearing and second bearing within the hub housing, thereby operatively rotating the poultry de-feathering device.

In one embodiment, a poultry processing apparatus includes at least one hub with a first end and a second end. A hub plate provided at the first end has an annular insert flare for mating to a machine cabinet opening. A drive shaft, having a pulley end and a drive end, mounts transversely through the hub. At least two sealed bearings rotationally support the at least one hub. One sealed bearing is positioned at each end of the hub, to provide a seal between the hub end and the drive shaft. A seal mounts to the first end of the hub at the annular insert flare. A pulley attaches to the pulley end of the drive shaft, and a drive belt operatively connects the pulley to a drive source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of one embodiment of the inventive device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one inventive hub assembly.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the inventive hub assembly taken along line 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the inventive hub assembly.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the inventive hub assembly.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the inventive hub assembly.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the inventive hub assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The assembly described herein efficiently rotates a gang of poultry processing equipment. A preferred embodiment of a hub 101 and belt 147 assembly for rotating processing equipment is generally shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, hub 101 includes a hub housing 103 having a flange portion 105, a boss portion 107 projecting laterally from one side of the flange portion 105 terminating at a pulley end 111, and a central bore 109 extending through the flange 105 and boss 107 along the general axis of the hub. The flange portion 105 may include a plurality of circumferentially oriented mounting holes 113 for attaching the hub 101 to a machine cabinet 125, for example with screws or threaded bolts 115. A separate hub plate 117 is mountable to the hub housing 103 at the flange portion 105 opposite the boss portion 107. The hub plate 117 has a shaft bore 119 aligned with the central bore 109 and is further provided with a plurality of circumferentially oriented hub plate mounting holes 121 alignable with the mounting holes 113 of the flange portion 105. Hub housing 103 and hub plate 117 are for example manufactured of material which rapidly and efficiently dissipates heat, such as aluminum.

Multiple outer bearing races 129 are formed within the central bore 109, preferably at the pulley end 111 of the boss portion 107, at the hub plate 117 attachment position and adjacent the junction of the flange portion 105 and boss portion 107. A drive shaft 131 is positioned through the central bore 109 of the hub 101 and the hub plate shaft bore 119. Multiple inner bearing races 132 on the drive shaft 131 coincide with the outer bearing races 129 of the central bore 109 and the hub plate shaft bore 119. Sealed bearings 135 and 137 fit at each inner race 132 and outer race 129 to fasten the drive shaft 131 axially through the central bore 109 and hub plate shaft bore 119, while allowing the drive shaft 131 to freely rotate within the hub 101. A first bearing 135 is for example positioned at the pulley end 111 of the hub housing 103, and a second bearing 137 positioned substantially near the junction of the flange portion 105 and boss portion 107. Additional bearing positions may be used depending on the size and application of the hub assembly.

Hub seals 139 are positioned on the drive shaft 131 adjacent each bearing 135 and 137. A seal 139 may also be mounted adjacent the hub plate 117 to prevent dirt and debris from invading the juncture of the drive shaft 131 and the hub plate 117. The combination of three seals 139 provides a near hermetic seal which eliminates invasion of feathers, feather parts, dirt, fecal matter and the like into the hub assembly.

The separate hub plate 117 has an insert flange 123 which has an outer circumference equal to the circumference of a machine cabinet opening 127 where the hub 101 it to be attached. This insert flange 123 for example provides a loose seal between the hub 101 and the machine cabinet 125, to diminish vibration and wear common in rotating processing equipment. The placement of a seal 139 on the drive shaft 131 at the insert flange 123 limits internal wear caused by the dust, feathers and debris inherent with the depilating process.

A pulley 141 is fastened, via a pulley attachment device 143, at a pulley end 133 of the drive shaft 131 adjacent the pulley end 111 of the hub housing 103. The pulley 141 includes a plurality of spaced-apart timing serrations 145. A timing belt 147 with a plurality of spaced apart serrations 149, which mate to the pulley serrations 145, connects the drive shaft 131 to a drive mechanism 151. Timing belt 147 and serrated pulley 141 may eliminate belt slippage common with poultry processing equipment powered with a flat or V-shaped belt. A second type of timing belt 147, as shown in FIG. 4, may be used in place of the serrated belt.

As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the pulley 141 may be exchanged with a common pulley for use with a flat or V-shaped belt if desired, or in necessary situations such as when a timing belt is not available. If preferred, a user may exchange the pulley 141 with a gear 163 which can be driven with a chain 165 as shown in FIG. 6. The user thus has a triple drive option because he or she may drive the rotational device using a timing belt 147, flat 162 or V belt 167, or chain 165 by alternating the drive shaft 131 attachment with a serrated pulley 141, common “V” pulley 169 or flat pulley 161.

A finger plate bore 156 is formed in a drive end 134 of the drive shaft 131 opposite the pulley end 133. For a defeathering device, a finger plate 155 is bolted into the finger plate bore 156. The finger plate 155 can be provided with a plurality of plucking fingers, e.g., plucking finger 171 (see FIG. 3), as is common in the industry.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the hub and belt assembly may power a series of driven rotational defeatherers. The drive mechanism 151 and a belt return hub 159 are positioned at opposite ends of a series of substantially aligned hubs 101. A timing belt 147 encircles the drive mechanism 151 and return hub 159, and alternates above and below each sequential hub pulley 141. At least one spring-loaded tension arm and idler pulley 153 may be provided at at least one hub 101 to independently release belt tension should the finger plate 155, or any part of the plucker assembly, become jammed.

The series of hub and belt assemblies for example utilizes a timing belt having two sides, each side provided with spaced-apart protruding serrations. The belt (e.g., timing belt 147) alternates above and below each of the aligned pulleys.

Additional variations and embodiments other than those specifically enumerated may be made to the hub and belt assembly without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to this disclosed embodiment, but only by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. Poultry processing apparatus, comprising: at least one hub; a drive shaft mounted transversely through the at least one hub, the drive shaft having a pulley end and a drive end; at least one sealed bearing received on the drive shaft and rotationally supporting the at least one hub; a pulley attached to the pulley end of the drive shaft; and a drive belt operatively connecting the pulley to a drive source.
 2. The poultry processing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a hub plate attached to the hub near the drive end, the hub plate having an insert flare and a seal adjacent the insert flare.
 3. The poultry processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pulley is selected from the group consisting of: a timing belt pulley, a flat belt pulley, a V-belt pulley and a sprocket having teeth.
 4. The poultry processing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the drive belt is selected from the group consisting of: a timing belt, a flat belt, a V-belt and a drive chain.
 5. The poultry processing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first bearing and a second bearing mounted on the drive shaft.
 6. The poultry processing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a finger plate for receiving a depilating device, said finger plate attached to the drive end of the drive shaft.
 7. Poultry processing apparatus, comprising: a hub having a flange portion, a boss portion, a pulley end and a central bore extending therethrough; a hub plate attachable to the hub, the hub plate having a flare portion and a hub plate shaft bore alignable with the central bore of the hub; a drive shaft mounted transversely through the central bore and hub plate shaft bore, the drive shaft further having a pulley end and a spaced-apart drive end; a first bearing and a seal positioned on the drive shaft at the hub plate and a second bearing and a seal positioned on the drive shaft at the junction of the flange portion and boss portion; a drive belt operatively connected to a pulley fastened to the drive shaft at the pulley end and to a spaced-apart drive source; and a poultry defeathering device attached to the drive shaft at the drive end; wherein rotation of the drive belt about the pulley spins the drive shaft in the first bearing and second bearing within the hub housing thereby operatively rotating the poultry de-feathering device.
 8. The poultry processing apparatus of claim 7, the pulley comprising a plurality of spaced-apart recessed serrations and the drive belt comprising a plurality of spaced-apart raised serrations that mate with the recessed serrations in the pulley.
 9. Poultry processing apparatus, comprising: at least one hub with a first end and a second end, the first end having a hub plate with an annular insert flare for mating to a machine cabinet opening; a drive shaft with a pulley end and a drive end, for mounting transversely through the at least one hub; at least two sealed bearings rotationally supporting the at least one hub, one of the sealed bearings positioned at the first of the hub and another one of the sealed bearings positioned at the second end of the hub, to provide a seal between the hub end and the drive shaft; a seal mountable with the first end of the hub at the annular insert flare; a pulley attachable to the pulley end of the drive shaft; and a drive belt for operatively connecting the pulley to a drive source.
 10. The poultry processing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the pulley is selected from the group consisting of: a timing belt pulley, a flat belt pulley, a V-belt pulley and a sprocket having teeth.
 11. The poultry processing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the drive belt is selected from the group consisting of: a timing belt, a flat belt, a V-belt and a drive chain.
 12. The poultry processing apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a first bearing and a second bearing mounted with the drive shaft.
 13. The poultry processing apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a finger plate attachable to the drive end of the drive shaft, for receiving a depilating device. 